I’ve survived the week! Here’s the big reveal:
I put on weight while I was writing a weight loss book.
It’s true! I don’t know how much, I don’t weigh myself very often anymore as I have become very connected to how my body feels. I know from my clothes and how I feel in general that I put on weight! So I have a job to do!
I’ve been writing my entire career but this book was a singular experience. After several months of research, I was ready to start writing around March of this year. I found myself descending into a surreal existence. I became truly obsessed! I’d wake up in the morning and barely be willing to take the time to wash up and dress before I’d want to be back at work. I’d write all day and all night until I could no longer focus on the keyboard. I’d go to bed very begrudgingly and sleep fitfully as I could not get my brain to stop working at top speed. I tried to get myself to exercise but after awhile I didn’t want to take the time. My days became intensely sedentary!
The only breaks I took became about food. I live in an urban area and there are two large grocery stores a very short walk away. I didn’t want to cook so I bought more convenience foods that I actually hadn’t eaten regularly for a long time. It would be a quick trip to restock provisions but some days I wouldn’t even be willing to walk that far. There’s a small convenience store right next door to my building. I’d go over there to talk a few minutes with the owner and buy a snack, usually packs of crackers. Taking that short break to check my mail and then go next door to chat with Jim became a routine and the only break I’d take from working.
It has been just a few weeks since I completely finished the book, the website, and the digital editions. As my life is coming back to normal, I am realizing the effects of living for several months like a hermit in a cave! The experience proves that getting sloppy with eating (even if not egregiously) and not exercising can actually put weight back on me! When I let my vigilance slip, I pay the price.
My normal diet is quite sound so I am back to regular shopping and cooking. But to drop some pounds, I think kicking up the exercise is what will be needed. Which brings me to the “exercise experiment”! I’m doing 600 to 900 kettlebell swings in a day. I realized that I’d reached a point where I could do 300 consecutive swings so I decided to do two to three routines a day to kick my calorie burn up. I was not sure if it would push me toward a level of overtraining but I have no odd aches or pains and my hands are fine.
Right now, I need calorie burn and afterburn! You know I sing the praises of the kettlebell swing as the perfect cardio!! The intensity can be varied, no pounding on the joints, it works the body’s biggest muscles, added weight kicks up the burn, do it anytime during the day just pick up the bell and get swingin’. My focus right now is on duration. I’ve wondered if I can make it up to about 1200 in a day.
I will update you how I’m doing! Are you putting a focus on building your daily calorie burn? What are you doing? How’s it workin’ for ya?
